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Virtual School graduates first class

St. Johns County's eighth and final graduation for the Class of 2010 didn't have "Pomp and Circumstance," caps and gowns or air horns.

Only four of the 15 students eligible showed up for the first-ever graduation ceremony for St. Johns Virtual School, which was held during the school board meeting at 40 Orange Street on Tuesday morning.

The low number didn't surprise Kristin Bozeman, who handles the day-to-day operation of the program, working with students and parents to negotiate the new virtual world.

"(The students) tend to be the sort who don't look for praise or to be recognized. They want to move on. ... I told them they should be proud. I said, 'You guys have really accomplished something' and they went, 'Not really.' They're modest."

Graduates got a chance to shake hands and pick up their diplomas from Superintendent Joe Joyner and Principal Mike O'Loughlin. Their family and friends became part of the ceremony and were asked to stand up and be recognized "because they're part of this as well."

Joyner pointed out the ceremony marked the third "first time" graduation in the county. Ponte Vedra and Creekside high schools graduated their first seniors this year.

All 15 virtual school graduates were public school students who at some point this school year entered the virtual school program. Because of statutory changes by the state, this is the first year there's been a full-time program culminating in degrees.

All plan to continue their education either at community colleges, technical schools or universities.

When you hear some of their stories, you may agree students deserve to take a bow.

In the case of sisters Angel and Kiara Williamson, Angel was a junior at Creekside High School when she entered the program and then talked her sister, a senior, into joining her.

Angel had to take not only the seven courses required for her junior year, but three other courses needed for her senior year. Bozeman warned the girls' father she didn't think it was possible.

Angel got "great grades" and impressed her teachers during the discussion-based assessments that are required as part of the virtual program.

"She worked 12-hour days," Bozeman said.

The sisters want to go into health professions and plan to room together in Jacksonville. Angel wants to be pre-med and is going to the University of North Florida. Kiara is going to Florida State College Jacksonville to pursue a career in radiology or another health science.

Both sisters attended the ceremony.

Virtual school is particularly appealing for students in athletics or acting or who have schedules that don't fit with the traditional school schedule, Bozeman said.

Graduate Ed Waller, for instance, played golf at Ponte Vedra High.

"On the level he's on, it is just impossible. He would have missed every Monday of the semester (because of play). Virtual school just made sense," Bozeman said.

Waller, who earned All-First Coast honors twice, will attend Stetson University on a golf scholarship.

Some worry virtual school keeps students from learning to deal with their peers.

"Especially by the time they're in high school, they have a pretty established social circle. They stay in touch a lot, they still participate in sports," Bozeman said. Sitting in front of a computer much of the day helps them keep in touch with friends, in the virtual social world of teens.

It's not unusual for parents to say they wish they'd been able to take advantage of a similar program.

"Virtual school didn't exist 10 years ago," Bozeman said, noting the program gives students flexibility. "In some ways we do drop-out prevention. We have caught a couple who I feel wouldn't have made it otherwise."